Legal Weed In Hudson County: Dispensary Coming, Officials Leery

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — It’s been a good news/bad news kind of month for marijuana advocates in Hudson County.

The good news? New Jersey’s newest medical marijuana dispensary, Harmony Foundation, has begun the harvesting process and is gearing up to open its doors in Secaucus. The long-awaited alternative treatment center (ATC) is the sixth dispensary in the state, with other facilities located in Montclair, Egg Harbor, Woodbridge, Cranbury and Bellmawr. (Watch a video of the production process below)

The bad news? Secaucus’ mayor isn’t exactly thrilled with having a medical marijuana dispensary in town. He’s also promised that Secaucus won't make it easy for cannabis entrepreneurs who are looking to open a marijuana shop in town if the substance is legalized in New Jersey.

• See related article: NJ Pot Legalization Expected Soon (What You Need To Know)

"Secaucus had no say in the medical marijuana dispensary opening here; it was determined by the state and we were chosen as one of the towns," Gonnelli told a Patch reporter last month.

Gonnelli added that he did not want to see recreational marijuana stores opening in the town, and even went as far as to say the town would fight it, in the form of an ordinance that would ban recreational marijuana shops from opening in Secaucus.

"I don't think we would want that here in Secaucus," Gonnelli said, referring to recreational marijuana. "Let people go to Hoboken or Jersey City if they want to buy it."

Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli isn’t the only Hudson County official leery about the idea of a recreational marijuana dispensary in their town. Earlier this week, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner wrote an open letter to residents, reminding them that the town recently amended its zoning ordinance to ban commercial/retail marijuana businesses.

Turner wrote that because of Weehawken’s “unique location and proximity to New York City,” the town has seen “many” inquiries from cannabis entrepreneurs about commercially growing, selling and distributing marijuana.

“We have received inquiries to convert liquor stores, convenience stores, homes and vacant land into marijuana dispensaries and smoking lounges throughout the township,” Turner said. “We’ve even had requests for large-scale growing and warehousing operations.”

Turner said that the town hasn’t and will not ban the personal use of prescribed medical marijuana, or any “personal use” if recreational weed is legalized in New Jersey. In addition, Turner left the door open to the possibility of amending Weehawken’s ban on recreational pot dispensaries down the line, or even allowing a prospective cannabis entrepreneur to file for a use variance… provided that they can pass a super-stringent litmus test, of course.

“A use variance application is the toughest variance that anyone can request,” Turner wrote. “The applicant must show to the highest standard that the proposed use will not result in substantial detriment to any neighborhood or the township as a whole.”

• See related article: New Jersey Medical Marijuana: Panel OKs 5 New Conditions

‘THE CROP IS IN MOTION’

Hudson County officials’ cautious approach isn’t slowing down production at Harmony Foundation’s facility at 600 Meadowland Parkway, however.

On Wednesday, Harmony Foundation staff posted a video of the facility in full blast, stating that “the lights are on and our crop is in motion.”

The ATC dispensary is planning to open its doors to patients in the spring of 2018, its staff said.

New Jersey medical marijuana advocates have long accused the state’s program of having serious issues with supply and price, and have pointed to a lack of licensed ATC facilities as one of the major factors.

• See related article: New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program Gets 'C' Grade In Annual Study

It's been more than five years since Harmony Foundation launched their bid to become one of New Jersey's inaugural six medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Harmony team is led by President and CEO Shaya Brodchandel, who has a background in nuclear medical manufacturing, according to a news release from the nonprofit.

"After two years of designing and constructing this state-of-the-art facility, we are excited to finally put it into action, and to serve New Jersey's patients with the purest and most effective medical marijuana," Brodchandel told Patch last July. "We have selected strains which we believe are well-suited for NJ medical patient's conditions and to our unique growing system."

• See related article: NJ Approves Grow Permit For 6th Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Harmony's 10,000 square-foot indoor grow facility will include automated technology that can create a daily rotation of plants that will enable the ATC to continuously plant and harvest cannabis. Data logging of every aspect of the production process is managed to ensure "maximum performance, purity and consistency," the nonprofit stated.

As for security:

"The building is reinforced to avoid penetration, and is fully monitored with sensors, cameras and alarms. Internal controls include seed-to-sale labeling and tracking of each plant. Workers are required to pass through an air shower into the clean facility before layering on work apparel, designed to protect the building and its contents from human and other environmental intruders. Visitor access to our growing spaces is very limited, but all who enter must also pass through the clean process, donning special coverings over clothes and shoes after passing through the air shower to remove any microscopic contaminants."

According to its members, Harmony Foundation is expected to supply medical marijuana for up to 4,000 patients per month.

• See related article: New Jersey Activists Fight To Expand Medical Marijuana Program
• See related article: New Jersey Marijuana Patients Offer Human Side To Weed Debate

With additional reporting by Carly Baldwin, Patch staff writer

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Photo: YouTube / Harmony Dispensary